Correspondent
IMPHAL, January 10
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW) Mamta Sharma, who is currently in Manipur to discuss setting up of the North East Cell of the Commission, said the women and children of the North Eastern states are suffering the most due the armed conflict in the region.Speaking at a formal function here today before interacting with the women vendors of three Ima markets located in the heart of Imphal town, Sharma said hundreds of women have become widows and hundreds of children orphans in the region due to the armed conflicts, she observed.
The NCW will always welcome any proposals for setting up a shelter home in the state as the women are facing the sufferings and violations of rights, she said.
Police, press and politicians should play a major role to fight with deprivation of women’s right and crimes against women in the state, she said and added that at the same time, the mindset of the society should be changed.
Manipur Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai, who also attended the function, admitted that the three Ima markets of Manipur are the symbol of empowerment in Manipur.
“These markets are not only the markets but also the meeting points to discuss various issues when the state faces crucial situations,” she said. In spite of the fact that the womenfolk of the state are industrious, the incidents of rape, domestic violence and various crimes against women are increasing in the state day by day.
To fight with such crimes, the state government has constituted the State Women Commission in 2006. However, the number of crimes has not gone down in the state as of now, she rued.
Besides state chief secretary PC Lawmkunga and Principal secretary Barun Mitra, NCW’s North East in charge Laltingliano Sailo and member Nirmala Samant Pravalkar and chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Women Dr Ibetombi Devi also attended the formal function.
